Remote control with gyro-balancer control

ABSTRACT

A remote control is arranged for controlling an air swimming toy includes a toy body and an operation system for shifting an altitude of the toy body and for steering a direction of the toy body. The remote controller includes a hand-held housing adapted for being held by a user&#39;s hand, a circuit control which is received in the hand-held housing and is wirelessly linked to the operation system, and a gyro-balancer control built-in with the circuit control to detect an orientation of the hand-held housing, wherein the operation system is controlled by the circuit control in response to the orientation of the hand-held housing to concurrently control the altitude and direction of the toy body in the air.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a remote controlled toy, and moreparticular to a toy wirelessly controlled by a remote control with agyro-balancer control, which provides a 3-dimensional control toremotely control the altitude, the steering, and direction of the toy,especially for the air swimming toy.

2. Description of Related Arts

A plurality of air-floating toys are known which are capable ofself-floating in the air and propelling in the air via a remote control.In particular, the air-floating toys are driven by means of a wigglingmotion. A conventional air-floating toy generally comprises a toy body,a driving mechanism and a steering mechanism to control the altitude andthe direction of the air-floating toy respectively via the remotecontroller.

Accordingly, the driving mechanism is affixed underneath the toy body tocontrol the altitude thereof. The steering mechanism is provided at atail portion of the air-floating toy to control the direction andpropelling movement thereof, wherein the steering mechanism comprises amotor for generating a sideward moving force to move the tail portion ofthe air-floating toy sidewardly and a spring for generating an opposedspring force to move the tail portion of the air-floating toy back tothe original position. In other words, a wiggling motion of the tailportion of the air-floating toy is formed via the sequent order of thesideward moving force and the spring force.

The remote control comprises two individual controllers remotely linkedto the driving mechanism and the steering mechanism respectively. Inparticular, one controller is operatively moved at a transversedirection to control the altitude of the toy body via the drivingmechanism. The other controller is operatively moved at a longitudinaldirection to control the direction of the toy body via the steeringmechanism.

Since the toy body will move slowly and smoothly as the swimming motionin the air, the user must hold the two individual controllers at apredetermined angle for a period of time in order to adjust the desiremovement of the toy body. In particular, the user must move thecontrollers back and forth to adjust the altitude and the direction ofthe toy body. In other words, the conventional controllers do notprovide any accurate and precise controls for the slow motionair-floating toy.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The invention is advantageous in that it provides an air swimming toy,which is wirelessly controlled by a remote control with a gyro-balancercontrol to provide a 3-dimensional control for remotely controlling thealtitude, the steering, and direction of the toy.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide an air swimming toy,wherein the gyro-balancer control provides more accurate and precisecontrols for the slow motion air-floating toy comparing with theconventional controllers.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide an air swimming toy,wherein the gyro-balancer control enables the remote control to detectmovement up and down, rotation around gravity and vastly improved theaccuracy over the conventional controller. In particular, thegyro-balancer control can detect movement in any axis to accuratelycontrol the altitude and direction of the toy body at the same time.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide an air swimming toy,wherein the gyro-balancer control is an added-on control for the airswimming toy, such that the user is able to select which controllingsystem for controlling the air swimming toy.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide an air swimming toy,wherein the gyro-balancer control is built-in with the circuit board inthe remote control to minimize the space of the remote controlincorporating the gyro-balancer control.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide an air swimming toy,wherein the gyro-balancer control is located at a mid-portion of theremote control for accurately measuring and maintaining the orientationof the remote control so as to precisely control the air swimming toy.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide an air swimming toy,wherein the gyro-balancer control is adapted to configure forcontrolling any existing air swimming toy.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide an air swimming toy,which does not require to alter the original structural design of thetoy body, so as to minimize the manufacturing cost of the air swimmingtoy incorporating with the gyro-balancer control.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide an air swimming toy,wherein no expensive or complicated structure is required to employ inthe present invention in order to achieve the above mentioned objects.Therefore, the present invention successfully provides an economic andefficient solution for providing an accurate and precise operationalcontrol to control the altitude and direction of the air swimming toy.

Additional advantages and features of the invention will become apparentfrom the description which follows, and may be realized by means of theinstrumentalities and combinations particular point out in the appendedclaims.

According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects andadvantages are attained by an air swimming toy which comprises:

a toy body arranged for being floated in the air;

an operation system for shifting an altitude of the toy body and forsteering a direction of the toy body; and

a remote controller remotely controlling the operation system, whereinthe remote controller comprises:

a hand-held housing adapted for being held by a user's hand;

a circuit control which is received in the hand-held housing and iswirelessly linked to the operation system; and

a gyro-balancer control built-in with the circuit control to detect anorientation of the hand-held housing, wherein the operation system iscontrolled by the circuit control in response to the orientation of thehand-held housing to concurrently control the altitude and direction ofthe toy body in the air.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the presentinvention comprises a method of operating an air swimming toy via aremote control, comprising the steps:

(a) wirelessly linking a circuit control of the remote control to anoperation system supported by a toy body of the air swimming toy,wherein the operation system is arranged for shifting an altitude of thetoy body and for steering a direction of the toy body in the air;

(b) detecting an orientation of a hand-held housing via a gyro-balancercontrol provide therein, wherein the circuit control is supported in thehand-held housing which is held by a user's hand; and

(c) wirelessly controlling the operation system by the circuit controlin response to the orientation of the hand-held housing to concurrentlycontrol the altitude and direction of the toy body in the air.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from aconsideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed description,the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air swimming toy according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating theoperation system being controlled by a remote controller.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the driving device of the airswimming toy according to the above preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2A illustrates an alternative mode of the air propeller of the airswimming toy according to the above preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 illustrates the air propeller within the operative housing tocreate a difference between a controllable air pressure and asurrounding air pressure as the air dynamic underneath the toy body.

FIG. 3A illustrates the alternative mode of the air propeller of the airswimming toy according to the above preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, illustrating the air propeller being rotated horizontally.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the steering device of the air swimmingtoy according to the above preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the steering device of the air swimming toyaccording to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the gear unit of the steering device ofthe air swimming toy according to the above preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a remote control of the air swimming toyaccording to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the circuit control with thegyro-balancer control according to the above preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, an air swimming toy accordingto a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated,wherein the air swimming toy comprises a toy body 10, an operationsystem, and a remote controller 30. The operation system comprises adriving device 20 and a steering device 40.

The toy body 10 comprises a floating body 11 and a tail body 12 movablycoupled with the floating body 11, wherein the floating body 11 isfilled with a particular gas, such as helium, in order to float in theair. In particular, the toy body 10 further comprises a valve 13provided at the floating body 11 for filling the gas thereinto. Thefloating body 11 is made of high quality, durable nylon material thatwill stay inflated for a relatively long period of time, such as a week.The gas can be refilled to the floating body 11 via the valve 13 toinflate the floating body 11.

Accordingly, when the tail body 12 is moved in a wiggling motion, thetoy body 10 will move forward slowly and smoothly as the swimming motionin the air. The tail body 12 is also formed as a steering member of thetoy body 10 that when the tail body 12 is moved sidewardly, the toy body10 will turn correspondingly.

The driving device 20 of the present invention is used for shifting analtitude of the toy body 10 but not the forward driving movementthereof. In other words, the driving device 20 of the present inventionis arranged for controllably elevating the toy body 10 and forcontrollably dropping down the toy body 10. The driving device 20 iscoupled at a bottom side of the floating body 11 to elevate or drop downthe air swimming toy so as to control the up and down movement thereof.

The steering device 40 is provided at a connection between the floatingbody 11 and the tail body 12 to drive the tail body 12 to move in awiggling motion. In other words, the steering device 40 not only forms amovable joint to connect the tail body 12 to the floating body 11 butalso forms a propelling unit to drive and steering the toy body 10forward.

As shown in FIG. 2, the driving device 20 comprises an air propeller 21,an operative housing 22 and a motorized unit 23 located underneath thetoy body 10.

The air propeller 21 is supported at a bottom side of the floating body11 of the toy body 10 for creating an air dynamic underneath the toybody 10. The air dynamic at the bottom side of the toy body 10 willeither create an upward elevating force to elevate the toy body 10 orcreate a downward dropping force to drop down the toy body 10.Accordingly, the air propeller 21 is activated to rotate in order tocontrol an altitude of the toy body 10 via the air dynamic, i.e. the upand down movement of the toy body 10. The air propeller 21 comprises aplurality of airfoil-shaped blades for transmitting rotational motioninto thrust. It is worth mentioning that the air propeller 21 is notarranged for propelling the toy body 10 forward but for controlling thealtitude of the toy body 10. The air propelling terminology is old andwell known for propelling an object forward. For example, an airship ispropelled through the air using propellers or other thrust mechanisms tomove the airship forward. A helicopter is propelled by rotary wingterminology to elevate the helicopter. However, none of the existingobject incorporates with the air propeller 21 at the bottom side as theair swimming toy of the present invention in order to control thealtitude of the air swimming toy.

The operative housing 22 is mounted at the bottom side of the floatingbody 11 of the toy body 10, wherein the air propeller 21 is housed inthe operative housing 22 to create the air dynamic within the operativehousing 22. In particular, the operative housing 22 is shaped in anaerodynamic configuration, wherein the operative housing 22 has anenlarged head portion 221 to receive the air propeller 21 therein, andan elongated tail portion 222 extended toward a tail portion of the toybody 10, i.e. the tail body of the toy body 10. The operative housing 22further has a curved front surface 223 at the front side of the headportion 221 and a streamlined bottom surface 224 extended from the headportion 221 to the tail portion 222 for reducing an air drag of theoperative housing 22.

The operative housing 22 further has a plurality of side air vents 225formed at two sidewalls of the head portion 221 and a plurality ofbottom air vents 226 formed at the bottom surface 224 at the headportion 221.

The motorized unit 23 is operatively connected to the air propeller 21to drive the air propeller 21 to rotate for creating a controllable airpressure underneath the toy body 10 at the floating body 11 thereof,wherein the motorized unit 23 comprises a driving shaft 231 sidewardlyextended with respect to the toy body 10 to couple with the airpropeller 21. In particular, the air propeller 21 is coupled at thedriving shaft 231 to be rotated at a direction with respect to acenterline of the toy body 10. Preferably, the rotational direction ofthe air propeller 21 is supported and aligned with the centerline of thetoy body 10.

Accordingly, when the controllable air pressure is lesser than asurrounding air pressure, the toy body 10 is elevated in the air, andwhen the controllable air pressure is higher than the surrounding airpressure, the toy body 10 is dropped down in the air. It is worthmentioning that through the side air vents 225 and the bottom air vents226, the air propeller 21 can create a difference between thecontrollable air pressure and the surrounding air pressure. As shown inFIG. 3, the air propeller 21 within the operative housing 22 isactivated to create the controllable air pressure within the operativehousing 22 in relation to the surrounding air pressure outside theoperative housing 22.

According to the preferred embodiment, the motorized unit 23 is a DCmotor and is controlled to generate a reversible rotating power toselectively drive the air propeller 21 between two opposite rotatingdirections. In other words, when the air propeller 21 is driven torotate at a forward direction, the controllable air pressure will bereduced in the operative housing 22. When the air propeller 21 is drivento rotate at a backward or reversed direction, the controllable airpressure will be increased in the operative housing 22.

In particular, the air propeller 21 is supported at a horizontal level,i.e. the driving shaft 231 is downwardly extended from the motorizedunit 23, wherein the air propeller 21 is rotated horizontally. Forexample, when the air propeller 21 is driven to horizontally rotate atthe clockwise direction, the toy body 10 will be lifted upwardly. Whenthe air propeller 21 is driven to horizontally rotate at the counterclockwise direction, the toy body 10 will be dropped downwardly.

FIGS. 2A and 3A further illustrate the alternative of the air propeller21A at different orientation to steer the toy body 10. As shown in FIGS.2A and 3A, the air propeller 21A is supported at a vertical level, i.e.the driving shaft 231 is sidewardly extended from the motorized unit 23,wherein the air propeller 21A is rotated vertically.

Accordingly, when the controllable air pressure is different thesurrounding air pressure at one side of the operative housing 22, thetoy body 10 is driven to turn in the air. In other words, when thecontrollable air pressure is lower than the surrounding air pressure atthe right side of the operative housing 22, the toy body 10 is driven toturn left. When the controllable air pressure is lower than thesurrounding air pressure at the left side of the operating housing 22,the toy body 10 is driven to turn right. It is worth mentioning thatthrough the side air vents 225 and the bottom air vents 226, the airpropeller 21A can create a difference between the controllable airpressure and the surrounding air pressure at either side of theoperative housing 22. For example, when the air propeller 21A is drivento vertically rotate at the clockwise direction, the toy body 10 isdriven to turn left. When the air propeller 21 is driven to verticallyrotate at the counter clockwise direction, the toy body 10 is driven toturn right.

As shown in FIG. 2, the driving device 20 further comprises a batterycompartment 24 for replaceably receiving a battery thereat toelectrically connect to the motorized unit 23 and to the air propeller21. The battery compartment 24 is provided at the tail portion 222 ofthe operative housing 22. The driving device 20 further comprises amounting platform 25 securely coupled at the bottom side of the toy body10 via glue, double-sided adhering layer, hook and loop fasteners or thelike. The mounting platform 25 provides a flat supporting surface thatthe motorized unit 23 is mounted at the front portion to support the airpropeller 21 and the battery compartment 24 is provided at the rearportion of the mounting platform 25. The operative housing 22 isdetachably coupled with the mounting platform 25 to enclose the airpropeller 21, the motorized unit 23, and the battery compartment 24.

As shown in FIG. 2, the toy body 10 further comprises a covering layer14 detachably coupled at the bottom side of the toy body to cover thedriving device 20. Accordingly, the covering layer 14 is made of thesame material and is configured to have matched color of the floatingbody 11 of the toy body 10 to hide the driving device 20, as shown inFIG. 1, so as to keep the aesthetic appearance of the toy body 10. It isworth mentioning that the operative housing 22 is relatively smallcomparing with the size of the toy body 10. Therefore, when the coveringlayer 14 is attached to the bottom side of the floating body 11 of thetoy body 10, the driving device 20 will be hidden by the covering layer14. Preferably, the covering layer 14 is detachably attached to thefloating body 11 of the toy body 10 via hook and loop fastener, or otherdetachable fasteners. In addition, the covering layer 14 has a pluralityof through slots 141 aligned with the side and bottom air vents 225, 226of the operative housing 22 when the operative housing 22 is covered bythe covering layer 14, such that when the air propeller 21 is operated,an interior of the operative housing 22 is communicated with an exteriorthereof.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the steering device 40 comprises a motorizedunit 41 for generating a reciprocating power transmitting to the tailbody 12 so as to generate a wiggling motion thereof. Accordingly, themotorized unit 41 is a DC motor and is controlled to generate areversible rotating power as the reciprocating power to drive the tailbody 12 to swing in a reciprocating manner with respect to the floatingbody 11. The motorized unit 41 comprises an output shaft 411 beingdriven to rotate in a reciprocating manner.

As shown in FIG. 6, the steering device 40 further comprises a gearhousing 42 supported at the floating body 11 and a gear unit 43 receivedin the gear housing 42, wherein the gear unit 42 is operatively coupledto the motorized unit 41 for directly transmitting the reciprocatingpower to the tail body 11. In particular, the gear unit 43 is coupled atthe output shaft 411 of the motorized unit 41 for transmitting thereciprocating power therefrom.

According to the preferred embodiment, the gear unit 43 comprises aplurality of driving gears having different diameter sizes to transmitthe reciprocating power from the motorized unit 41. As shown in FIG. 6,the driving gears are configured to convert the rotational speed of theoutput shaft 411 of the motorized unit 41 into a swinging motion and tocontrol the wiggling angle of the tail body 12. In other words, when theoutput shaft 411 of the motorized unit 41 is rotated at a predeterminedangle, the tail body 12 is precisely driven to wiggle at a predeterminedwiggling angle with respect to the floating body 11. Therefore, thewiggling angle of the tail body 12, i.e. the angle of the tail body 12being wiggled from one side to the other side, will be maximized. Inaddition, through the gear unit 43, the reciprocating power from themotorized unit 41 can be evenly and smoothly transmitted to the tailbody 12 so as to smoothly wiggle the tail body 12 from one side to theother side. Furthermore, the toy body 10 can be steered via thedirection of the tail body 12 via the motorized unit 41 that when thetail body 12 is driven to wiggle at one side via the rotational power ofthe motorized unit 41, the toy body 10 will turn at the correspondingdirection.

The steering device 40 further comprises a base frame 44 affixed to thefloating body 11 to support the motorized unit 41 thereat and a wigglingframe 45 coupled to the tail body 12, wherein the wiggling frame 45 ismovably coupled with the base frame 44 via the gear unit 43. Inparticular, the wiggling frame 45 is operatively driven by the motorizedunit 41 to drive the tail body 12 moving in a wiggling motion.

According to the preferred embodiment, the base frame 44 has a circularshape and is coupled at a rear portion of the floating body 11, whereinthe gear housing 42 is coupled at the center of the base frame 44. Thesteering device 40 further comprises a motor housing 46 supported at thebase frame 44 at a position adjacent to the gear housing 42, wherein themotorized unit 41 is received at the motor housing 46. The output shaft411 of the motorized unit 41 is extended from the motor housing 46 tothe gear housing 42 so as to operatively couple with the gear unit 42therewithin.

The motor housing 46 is coupled at the base frame 44 at a position thatthe output shaft 411 of the motorized unit 41 is radially extended withrespect to the base frame 44 in order to couple with the gear unit 42.

It is worth mentioning that the motorized unit 41 and the gear unit 43are received at the motor housing 46 and the gear housing 42, which aresupported at the base frame 44. In other words, the overall weight ofthe motorized unit 41, the gear housing 42, the gear unit 43, and themotor housing 46 are supported at the base frame 44 via the floatingbody 11. Therefore, the overall weight at the wiggling frame 45 will beminimized to enable the reciprocating power from the motorized unit 41transmitting to the wiggling frame 45 effectively.

In order to couple the wiggling frame 45 to the gear unit 43, thesteering device 40 further comprises a swing shaft 47 extended throughthe gear housing 42 to operatively couple with the gear unit 43, whereinthe swing shaft 47 is driven to rotate reciprocatingly by thereciprocating power of the motorized unit 41 through the gear unit 43.In particular, the wiggling frame 45 is coupled at the swing shaft 47,such that when the swing shaft 47 is driven to rotate in a reciprocatingmanner, the wiggling frame 45 is moved in a wiggling motion.

According to the preferred embodiment, the wiggling frame 45 comprises aU-shaped retention member 451 and two elongated retention arms 452inclinedly extended from the retention member 451 to form a V-shapedconfiguration. Accordingly, the retention member 451 has two couplingends coupled at two end portions of the swing shaft 47 respectively,wherein the gear housing 42 is positioned between the two coupling endsof the retention member 451 to minimize the distance between the baseframe 44 and the wiggling frame 45.

The tail body 12 is coupled at the wiggling frame 45 via the retentionarms 452, wherein two side edges of the tail body 12 are detachablycoupled with the retention arms 452, such as by clipping, respectivelyso as to securely couple the tail body 12 with the floating body 11 viathe steering device 40.

As shown in FIG. 4, the driving device 20 further comprises a batterycompartment 24 for replaceably receiving a battery thereat toelectrically connect to the motorized unit 41 via a connection cable.The battery compartment 24 is provided at the bottom side of the toybody 10.

The present invention further provides a method of controlling analtitude of the air swimming toy, comprising the following steps.

(1) Support the air propeller 21 at the bottom side of the toy body 10for creating the air dynamic underneath the toy body 10. Accordingly,the toy body 10 is filled with the gas in order to float in the air.

According to the preferred embodiment, the mounting platform 25 isaffixed to the bottom side of the floating body 11 of the toy body 10such that the motorized unit 23 is coupled underneath the toy body 10 tosupport the air propeller 21 at the bottom side of the toy body 10.

The battery is placed at the battery compartment 24 to electricallyconnect to the motorized unit 23. Then, the operative housing 22 iscoupled with the mounting platform 25 to enclose the motorized unit 23and the air propeller 21 within the operative housing 22.

(2) Activate the air propeller 21 to rotate in order to control thealtitude of the toy body 10 via the air dynamic.

Once the power of the motorized unit 23 is switched on, the airpropeller 21 is activated to rotate when the remote receiver 32 receivesthe control signal from the handheld control 31. The air propeller 21will start to rotate to create the air dynamic within the operativehousing 22 for creating the controllable air pressure. Through thedifference between the controllable air pressure and the surrounding airpressure, the toy body 10 will be selectively elevated at apredetermined height. It is worth mentioning that the toy body 10 willbe elevated or dropped down gradually and slowly through the airdynamic.

According to the preferred embodiment, the remote controller 30 isremotely controlling the driving device 20 and the steering device 40.In particular, the remote controller 30 is wirelessly control thedriving device 20 and the steering device 40. Therefore, the remotecontroller 30 is arranged to control the altitude of the toy body 10 viathe driving device 20, and is arranged to control the steering andpropelling of the toy body 10 via the steering device 40.

According to the preferred embodiment, the remote controller 30 isremotely controlling the driving device 20 to operate the air propeller21 and the steering device 40. In particular, the remote controller 30is wirelessly control the driving device 20 and the steering device 40.Therefore, the remote controller 30 is arranged to control the altitudeof the toy body 10 via the driving device 20, and is arranged to controlthe steering and propelling of the toy body 10 via the steering device40.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the remote controller 30, which is remotelycontrolling the operation system, comprises a hand-held housing 31adapted for being held by the user's hand, a circuit control 33 which issupported in the hand-held housing 31 and is wirelessly linked to theoperation system, and a gyro-balancer control 34 operatively linked tothe circuit control 33 to detect an orientation of the hand-held housing31, wherein the operation system is controlled by the circuit control 33in response to the orientation of the hand-held housing 31 toconcurrently control the altitude and direction of the toy body 10 inthe air.

According to the preferred embodiment, the user is able to hold thehand-held housing 31 in order to control the operation of the toy body10. In particular, the driving device 20 is arranged for shifting thealtitude of the toy body 10 when the hand-held housing 31 is tiltedfront and back, and the steering device 40 is arranged for steering thedirection of the toy body when the hand-held housing 31 is tiltedsidewardly.

The hand-held housing 31 has two side handle portions 311 for beingergonomically held by hands of the user and a mid-portion 312 locatedbetween the handle portions 311. Preferably, the handle portions 311 aresymmetrically extended for being held thereon, so that the hand-heldhousing 31 is able to be held with two hands of the user. A power sourceis received in the hand-held housing 31 to operatively link to thecircuit control 33.

According to the preferred embodiment, the circuit control 33 comprisesa control circuitry 331 supported in the hand-held housing 31, and aremote receiver 32 wirelessly connected to the control circuitry 331,wherein the remote receiver 32 is housed in the operative housing 22 andis operatively linked to the motorized unit 23 to control an operationof the air propeller 31. A power supply, which is preferably arechargeable battery or replaceable battery, is operatively linked tothe circuit control 33 and is received in the mid-portion 312 of thehand-held housing 31 to maintain the balance thereof

Preferably, the control circuitry 331 is wirelessly linked to the remotereceiver 32 via radio frequency (RF) connection, Infrared (IF)connection or other wireless connections. Accordingly, the remotereceiver 32 comprises a control circuit and a remote antennaelectrically coupled thereto, wherein the motorized unit 23 isoperatively coupled at the control circuit of the remote receiver 32.Therefore, when the remote receiver 32 receives a control signal fromthe control circuitry 331, the motorized unit 23 is activated to controlthe operation of the air propeller 21. In addition, the steering device40 is also operatively linked to the control circuit of the remotereceiver 32, such that when the remote receiver 32 receives a controlsignal from the handheld control 31, the steering device 40 is activatedto control the steering and propelling operation of air swimming toy.

According to the preferred embodiment, the gyro-balancer control 34 isbuilt-in with the control circuitry 331 to detect the orientation of thehand-held housing 31 so as to minimize the space of the hand-heldhousing 31 incorporating the gyro-balancer control 31. In particular,the gyro-balancer control 34 comprises a 3-axis gyro that detects theroll, pitch, and yaw of the hand-held housing 31 to control concurrentlycontrol the altitude and direction of the toy body 10 in the air.Therefore, the gyro-balancer control 34 can detect movement in any axisto accurately control the altitude and direction of the toy body 10 atthe same time.

As shown in FIG. 8, the gyro-balancer control 34 is located at themid-portion 311 of the hand-held housing 31, such that the hand-heldhousing 31 is able to be held with two hands of the user at the handleportions 311 to selectively move the hand-held housing 31 at a desiredorientation so as to control the toy body 10. Therefore, thegyro-balancer control 34 provides more accurate and precise controls forthe slow motion air-floating toy when the gyro-balancer control 34 islocated between the hands of the user. In other words, the user is ableto easily control the altitude and direction of the toy body 10 in theair via the hand-held housing 31.

Accordingly, the circuit control 33 comprises a lever control 332provided on the hand-held housing 31, and a control switch 333selectively activated one of the lever control 332 and the gyro-balancercontrol 34 for controlling the operation system.

The lever control 332 preferably comprises two levering members providedat the handle portions 311 of the hand-held housing 31 respectively suchthat the handle portions 311 of the hand-held housing 31 can be heldwith two hands of the user while having at least the thumbs of eachhands of player as free fingers for controllably actuating the levercontrol 332 by the free fingers. Preferably, the gyro-balancer control34 is located between the two levering members of the lever control 332.

The control switch 333 is provided on the hand-held housing 31 toselectively activate one of the lever control 332 and the gyro-balancercontrol 34. Accordingly, when the lever control 332 is disabled, thegyro-balancer control 34 will be automatically enabled to control theoperation system. Likewise, when the gyro-balancer control 34 isdisabled, the lever control 332 will be automatically enabled to controlthe operation system. In other words, only one of the lever control 332and the gyro-balancer control 34 will be activated to control theoperation of the toy body 10.

The present invention further provides a method of operating the airswimming toy via the remote control 30, comprising the following steps.

(1) Wirelessly link the circuit control 33 of the remote control to theoperation system of the air swimming toy.

Accordingly, the step (1) further comprises a step of selectivelyactivating the circuit control 33 between a gyro-controlling mode and alever-controlling mode. At the gyro-controlling mode, the operationsystem is controlled in response to the gyro-balancer control 34. At thelever-controlling mode, the operation system is controlled in responseto the lever control 332 provided on the hand-held housing 31. The useris able to select the circuit control 33 between the gyro-controllingmode and the lever-controlling mode by the control switch 333.

(2) Detect an orientation of the hand-held housing 31 via thegyro-balancer control 34 provide therein. Accordingly, when the userholds at the handle portions 311 of the hand-held housing 31, the useris able to shift the hand-held housing 31 at any angle such that thegyro-balancer control 34 will detect the roll, pitch, and yaw of thehand-held housing 31 to control concurrently control the altitude anddirection of the toy body 10 in the air.

(3) Wirelessly control the operation system by the circuit control 33 inresponse to the orientation of the hand-held housing 31 to concurrentlycontrol the altitude and direction of the toy body 10 in the air.

According to the preferred embodiment, the gyro-balancer control 34 ofthe remote control 30 is adapted to configure for controlling anyexisting air swimming toy. Once the wireless connection between theremote control 30 and the operation system is set up, the toy body 10will be controlled by the gyro-balancer control 34 of the remote control30.

One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of thepresent invention as shown in the drawings and described above isexemplary only and not intended to be limiting.

It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have beenfully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown anddescribed for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structuralprinciples of the present invention and is subject to change withoutdeparture from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes allmodifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An air swimming toy, comprising: a toy bodyarranged for being floated in the air; an operation system for shiftingan altitude of said toy body and for steering a direction of said toybody; and a remote controller remotely controlling said operationsystem, wherein said remote controller comprises: a hand-held housingadapted for being held by a user's hand; a circuit control which issupported in said hand-held housing and is wirelessly linked to saidoperation system; and a gyro-balancer control operatively linked to saidcircuit control to detect an orientation of said hand-held housing,wherein said operation system is controlled by said circuit control inresponse to said orientation of said hand-held housing to concurrentlycontrol the altitude and direction of said toy body in the air.
 2. Theair swimming toy, as recited in claim 1, wherein said operation systemcomprises a driving device for shifting the altitude of said toy bodywhen said hand-held housing is tilted front and back, and a steeringdevice for steering the direction of said toy body when said hand-heldhousing is tilted sidewardly.
 3. The air swimming toy, as recited inclaim 1, wherein said circuit control comprises a control circuitrysupported in said hand-held housing, wherein said gyro-balancer controlis built-in with said control circuitry to detect the orientation ofsaid hand-held housing.
 4. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 2,wherein said circuit control comprises a control circuitry supported insaid hand-held housing, wherein said gyro-balancer control is built-inwith said control circuitry to detect the orientation of said hand-heldhousing.
 5. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 1, wherein saidgyro-balancer control is located at a mid-portion of said hand-heldhousing.
 6. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 2, wherein saidgyro-balancer control is located at a mid-portion of said hand-heldhousing.
 7. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 4, wherein saidgyro-balancer to control is located at a mid-portion of said hand-heldhousing.
 8. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 1, wherein saidgyro-balancer control comprises a 3-axis gyro that detects the roll,pitch, and yaw of said hand-held housing to control concurrently controlthe altitude and direction of said toy body in the air.
 9. The airswimming toy, as recited in claim 4, wherein said gyro-balancer controlcomprises a 3-axis gyro that detects the roll, pitch, and yaw of saidhand-held housing to control concurrently control the altitude anddirection of said toy body in the air.
 10. The air swimming toy, asrecited in claim 7, wherein said gyro-balancer control comprises a3-axis gyro that detects the roll, pitch, and yaw of said hand-heldhousing to control concurrently control the altitude and direction ofsaid toy body in the air.
 11. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim1, wherein said circuit control comprises a lever control provided onsaid hand-held housing, and a control switch selectively activated oneof said lever control and said gyro-balancer control for controllingsaid operation system.
 12. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 7,wherein said circuit control comprises a lever control provided on saidhand-held housing, and a control switch selectively activated one ofsaid lever control and said gyro-balancer control for controlling saidoperation system.
 13. The air swimming toy, as recited in claim 10,wherein said circuit control comprises a lever control provided on saidhand-held housing, and a control switch selectively activated one ofsaid lever control and said gyro-balancer control for controlling saidoperation system.
 14. A method of operating an air swimming toy via aremote control, comprising the steps: (a) wirelessly linking a circuitcontrol of said remote control to an operation system supported by a toybody of said air swimming toy, wherein said operation system is arrangedfor shifting an altitude of said toy body and for steering a directionof said toy body in the air; (b) detecting an orientation of a hand-heldhousing via a gyro-balancer control provide therein, wherein saidcircuit control is supported in said hand-held housing which is held bya user's hand; and (c) wirelessly controlling said operation system bysaid circuit control in response to said orientation of said hand-heldhousing to concurrently control the altitude and direction of said toybody in the air.
 15. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein, in thestep (b), said gyro-balancer control is built-in a said controlcircuitry of said circuit control to detect the orientation of saidhand-held housing.
 16. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein, in thestep (b), said gyro-balancer control comprises a 3-axis gyro thatdetects the roll, pitch, and yaw of said hand-held housing to controlconcurrently control the altitude and direction of said toy body in theair.
 17. The method, as recited in claim 14, wherein said gyro-balancercontrol is located at a mid-portion of said hand-held housing.
 18. Themethod, as recited in claim 16, wherein said gyro-balancer control islocated at a mid-portion of said hand-held housing.
 19. The method, asrecited in claim 14, wherein the step (a) further comprises a step ofselectively activating said circuit control between a gyro-controllingmode and a lever-controlling mode, wherein at said gyro-controllingmode, said operation system is controlled in response to saidgyro-balancer control, wherein at said lever-controlling mode, saidoperation system is controlled in response to a lever control providedon said hand-held housing.
 20. The method, as recited in claim 18,wherein the step (a) further comprises a step of selectively activatingsaid circuit control between a gyro-controlling mode and alever-controlling mode, wherein at said gyro-controlling mode, saidoperation system is controlled in response to said gyro-balancercontrol, wherein at said lever-controlling mode, said operation systemis controlled in response to a lever control provided on said hand-heldhousing.